Method of and apparatus for wrapping boxes



April 8, 1930. T. A. FEDERWITZ METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING BOXES Filed Feb. 12, 1929 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITE TAT$ rATEiN OFFICE & SMITH COMPANY, OF

PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING BOXES Application filed. February 12, 1929. Serial No. 339,426.

7 My invention relates to the art of applying individual sheets, wrappers,.labels, or the like, hereinafter generically termed wrappers to cartons, containers, boxes and the like, hereinafter termed boxes.

In accordance with my invention, to permit high speed of wrapping of a box,without the usual attendant mutilation-or tearing of the wrapper being applied thereto, a blast of air is directed against one or more wrapper portions or panels to hold them out of the path of movement of anotheror other wrapper portions, specifically corner-lap sections, being folded into engagement with the box.

.My invention resides in the method, sys tems, features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for illustration of one of the forms it may take, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 discloses a side elevational view of a box wrapping machine, utilizing my invention.

shown in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. 7

Figs. 5 and 6 represent successive steps in the application of a wrapper to a box-in accordance with a prior practice.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the position of wrapper panels during the application of a wrapper to a box in accordance with my invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, within the hollow casing 1 mounted upon a base 2 is disposed a drum cam, not shown, effecting oscillations of .a lever 3 about its pivot pin 4 suitably supported for rotation in memher 5 integral with or attached to casing 1. To the outer end of the lever 3 is pivotally mounted a link member 6, threadably and adjustably engaging a yoke member 7 through the upstanding arms of which and an actuating arm 8 passes a connecting pin 9. One end of arm 8 is connected by suitable linkage, as lever 13 to a plunger rod 14: guided into a box B to be wrapped, or to support the walls of an unstayed box to be wrapped and stayed.

A tension spring '10, the lower end of which is suitably connected to a retaining member 10 pivoted to goose-neck or standard 11, and the upper end of which is connected to a retaining collar threaded on adjusting screw 1O which slidably engages a pin at the end of actuating arm 8, balances the reciprocating form-block structure and its actuating mechanism including plunger 14, arm 8, etc.

As the plunger moves downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, there is engaged a lower form-block or platen 19 carried by a plunger 20.,biased by a spring to the position shown in Fig. 1, and thereafter the platen 1-9 is moved downwardly during continued movement of and with plunger 14. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of parts At the conclusion of the wrapping operation which is hereinafter described, the formblock. and platen move upwardly, until the plunger 20 resumes its original position, the form-blocks 17 and 18, however, continuing their upward travel beyond that point. Suitable stripping mechanism, not shown, forces the wrapped box from the form-blocks, leavingit on the platen 19 from which position it is ejected by a reciprocating member 21 operating in timed relation to the movements of the rocker arm I The oppositely disposed pairs of units 22, 22 and 23, 23 for effecting the several wrapping operations are adjustably mounted upon a table member 24 or the like at the top of the casing-1. As the box B with a wrapper W adhering thereto is moved downwardly by the form-block structure the side panels 25, 25 are engaged by rolls 26 carried by units 22 and which have been moved into the path of the form-block structure by cam mechanism not shown, operating in timed relation to the descent of the plunger, to fold the panels into engagement with the side walls of the box. Thereafter the turn-in fingers 27 during continued downward movement of the box engage and fold the corner lap sections 28 of the wrapper into adhesive engagement with the end walls 29 of the box. As the box continues its downward movement the end panels 30 of the wrapper are engaged by rolls 31, 31, of units 23, which are moved into the path of the descending blocks by cam or other suitable mechanism, not shown, to fold the end panels into engagement with the end wall 29 of the box and with the turned-in corner lap sections 28.

The mechanism thus far described and its mode of operation is substantially similar to that of prior patents including Smith Patent 691,329, Nitsch et al. Patent 1,540,900, Federwitz et al. Patent 1,541,036 and Reifsnyder etal. Patent 1,152,356. Prior to my invention when some types of wrapper paper were used, deep boxes wrapped, and particularly and practically in all cases where high speed operation was attempted, the wrapped box was often and usually disfigured by mutilation or tearing of the end panels adjacent the lower corners of the box. It now appears that during descent of the box, the resistance offered by the air or atmosphere was suflicient to effect movement of the end panels 30 of the wrapper into the path of movement of the corner lap sections 28, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when the turn-in fingers 27 forced the corner lap sections into engagement with the end wall 29 of the box, the end panel 30 of the wrapper was torn or badly crumpled, as shown in Fig. 6.

To avoid this difficulty, and to facilitate and to permit high speed of operation of the wrapping machine substantially in excess of that previously attainable, there is exerted upon the end panels 30 a force to hold them away from the end walls of the box, shown. in Figs. 2 and 3 before and during the corner lap turn-in operation preferably a blast of air is directed, by nozzles 32 against them. The nozzles 32 are supported by members 33 mounted upon and movable with units 23, 28.

The air blast produced by pump 34- mounted upon base 2 and driven by any suitable means, as an electric motor 35, is conducted through pipe 36 having a Y connection at its upper end from which extend the flexible tubes 37, 37 to pipes 38. 38 in communication with nozzles 32. The force of the blast, depending upon the nature or weight of the wrapper 1V, the speed of descent of the formblocks, etc. may be regulated as desired by adjustment of the bleeder valve 39 in communication with pipe 36 and atmosphere.

If desired a cut-oil valve may be interposed in the air line, its operating mechanism being actuated in timed relation to the movement of the form-block structure to permit the blast to be effective only before and during the turning in of the corner lap sections. Thereafter the blast may be cut off during the remainder of the box-wrapping cycle.

The boxes with a coated wrapper adhering thereto may be individually placed upon the form-block structures 17, 18 by an operator, or the wrapping machine may comprise a unit of a full automatic system in which wrappers and boxes are delivered thereto by nechanism operating in timed relation therewith, for example, in co-pending applications of Federwitz and Bailey Serial No. 698,841, filed March 13, 1924; Serial No. 40,769, filed July 1, 1925; Serial No. 147,405, filed November 10, 1926; and Serial No. 321,635, filed l lo .'ember 24, 1928.

The wrappers 3V may be of the single piece type of individual wrapper having cornercut notches as shown in Stokes Patent- 845,205, or of the composite type disclosed in Stokes Patent 1,625,577. Further the wrappers may be either untabbed, or provided with reinforcementstrips or tabs, for example, as shown in Stokes Patents 1,599,500, 1,273,420, 845,205, or in co-pending Stokes applications Serial Serial l lo. 225,472, filed October 11, 1927; 79,936., filed January 8, 1926; and 88,231, filed F n'uary 15, 1926. The boxes B may he stayed boxes, one-piece blanks, or composite blanks of a plurality of components as in Stokes et al. Patent 1,265,273.

lVhat I claim is: n

1. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path. folding a portion of the wrapper into engagement with a box wall, and applying a force to another wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first portion during said folding operation.

2. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement of the box and wrapper folding a portion of the wrapper into engagement with a box wall, and applying a force to another wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first wrapper portion during said fol(l ing operation.

3. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path folding a portion of the wrapper into engagement with a box wall, and applying a blast of air to another wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first portion during said folding operation.

4. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement of the box and wrapper folding a portion of the wrapper into engagement with a box Wall, and applying a blast No. 303,688, filed September 4, 1928,

of air to another wrapper portion to prevent 6. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement of the box and wrapper folding a portion of the wrapper into engagement with a box wall, applying a force to another wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first wrapper portion during said folding operation, and thereafter folding the second wrapper portion into engagement with the first wrapper portion.

7. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path moving wrapper portions toward each other and into engagement with a box wall, and applying a force to a Wrapper portion adjacent said first named portions to prevent its movement into the path of movement of said portions during the folding operation.

8. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement of the box and wrapper moving wrapper portions toward each other and into engagement with a box wall, and applying a force to a wrapper portion adjacent said first named portions to prevent its movement into the path of movement of said portions during the folding operation.

9. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path mov-' mg wrapper portions toward each other and into engagement with a box wall, and applying a blast of air to a wrapper portion adjacent said first named portions to prevent its movement into the path of movement of said portions during the folding operation.

10. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and wrapper along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement of the box and wrapper moving wrapper portions toward each other and into engagement with a box wall, and applying'a blast of air to a wrapper portion adjacent said first named portions to prevent its movement into the path of movement of said portions during the folding operation.

11. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a coated wrapper adhering thereto along a path, at a point or region in said path folding a portion of the wrapper into adhesive engagement with,

a box wall, and applying a force toanother wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first portion during said folding operation.

12. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a-box and a coated wrapper adhering thereto along a path, at a point or region in said path and during movement ofthe box and wrapper folding a portion of the'wrapper into engagement with a box wall;

and applying a fo-r-ceto another wrapper portion to prevent movement thereof into the path of movement of the first wrapper portion during said folding operation.

13. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a coated wrapper adhering thereto along a path, ata point or region in saitlpath folding a portion of the wrapper into adhesive engagement with a box :wall, applying a force to anotherwrapper portion to prevent movement'thereof into'the path of movement of the first portion during said folding operation, :and thereafter folding the second wrapper portion into adhesive engagement with the first wrapperportion.

14. The method of wrapping a box which comprises movmg a box and a wrapper along :a path, at a pointin said pat-h turning in cor- "ner lap sections of the wrapper into engagement-with the end wall of the box, and direct ing a blast of air again'st an end panel of the wrapper to prevent its movement in the path of movement of the corner lap sections during said turndn operation.

.15. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a coated wrapper adhering thereto along-a path, at a point in said path turning in corner lap sections of "the wrapper into adhesive engagement with the end wall of the box, and directing a blast of air against an end panel of the wrapper to prevent its movement in the path of movement of the corner lap sections during said turn-in operation. a

16. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box an d a wrapper along a path, .at a point in said path turning in corner lap sections of the wrapper into engagement with the end wall of the box, di-

recting a blast of air against an'end panel ofthe wrapper to prevent its movement in the path of movement of the corner-lap sections during said turn-in operation, and thereafter folding the end panel of the wrapper into engagement with the turned-in corner lap' sections.

7 17. The method of wrapping a box which comprises moving a box and a coated wrapper adhering thereto along a path, at a point in said path turning in corner lap sections of Ill) the wrapper into adhesive engagement with the end wall of the box, directing a blast of air against an end panel of the wrapper to prevent its movement into the path of movement of the corner-lap sections during said turn-in operation, and thereafter folding the end panel of the Wrapper into adhesive engagement with the turnedin corner-lap sections.

18. A wrapping machine comprising tormblock structure adapted to transport a box and a wrapper, means to fold a portion into engagement with the box, and means to apply a force preventing movement of another wrapper portion into the path of movement of said first portion during said folding operation.

19. A wrapping machine comprising tormblock structure adapted to transport a box and a wrapper, means operating in timed relation to said form-block structure to fold a portion into engagement with the box during movement thereof, and means to apply a force preventing movement of another wrapper portion into the path of movement of said first portion during said folding operation.

20. A Wrapping machine comprising formblock structure adapted to transport a box and a wrapper, means to fold a Wrapper portion into engagement with the box, a nozzle positioned adjacent the path of movement of said form-block structure, and means to deliver air under pressure to said nozzle to prevent another Wrapper portion from being engaged by said first named means during folding of the first wrapper portion.

21. A wrapping machine comprising tormblock structure adapted to transport a box and a Wrapper, means to fold oppositely disposed wrapper portions into engagement with the box, and nozzles positioned adjacent the path of travel of the form-block structure to direct a blast of air against other wrapper portions to be subsequently applied to the box.

22. A wrapping machine comprising fo-rm block structure adapted to transport a box and a wrapper, means adjustably positioned adjacent the path of travel of said formblock structure to fold a wrapper portion into engagement with a wall of the box, and a nozzle carried thereby and adjustable therewith adapted to direct a blast of air against said wrapper portion.

THEODORE A. FEDERl VITZ. 

